Archaeological Survey and Testing Upper Towaliga Reservoir Redesign Areas Henry County Water Supply Reservoir System Henry and Spalding Counties, Georgia

The current investigation documents 29 previously unrecorded and two previously recorded archeological sites within the Upper Towaliga impoundment redesign zone in Henry and Spalding Counties, Georgia. These sites were identified during the original study of the Upper Towaliga Reservoir conducted by RobertS. Webb, Beth Gantt and Keith McRae for Law Environmental Inc. in 1989 (Webb 1989). Two recorded sites were revisited for evaluation. Through survey and evalutation, it was determined that 27 sites are severely disturbed and unlikely to contain significant archeological data. These resources are recommended as ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The five remaining sites (Sites 9HY70, 9HY221, 9HY222, 9HY224, and portions of Site 9SP14) are considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Site 9HY224 is the remains of the Bernhard-Rauls merchant mill , dating to the 1860s. While most of the mill is located above the 219.5 m MSL elevation, a small portion of this site is located at the 219.5 m MSL pool limit. This site is recommended as eligible based on the potential for gaining significant information pertaining to local industry in the 19th century. Site 9HY70 is a prehistoric occupation significant due to the presence of Paleoindian period artifacts. Paleoindian period sites with multiple Paleoindian artifacts are very rare. The eligible recommendation for this site is based on the rare site type and the potential to contribute significant information to Paleoindian period archeology in the Georgia Piedmont. Another site containing Paleoindian period artifacts, Site 9HY222, also contains deposits dating to the Middle to Late Woodland periods. Archeological deposits 20 to 40 centimeters thick were detected at 25 to 30 centimeters below surface and appear to be intact. Because Site 9HY222 has the potential for yielding significant data related to at least the Woodland and Paleoindian periods it is recommended as eligible for listing on the NRHP. A primarily Woodland period site, Site 9HY221 , contained a fire-cracked rock cluster in the northern portion of the site. This area also contained an area of dark soil that is probably a plow-disturbed midden. The likelihood of additional features being present in the northern part of the site is the justification for the recommendation that the site is eligible for the NRHP. During the current study, the portion of Site 9SP14 located above the 216.4 m MSL pool elevation was evaluated. Although the portions tested during the previous study had been severely disturbed, the southern half of the site studied here contained five prehistoric features. Artifacts recovered indicate occupation during the Archaic, Woodland and Mississippian periods. For these reasons, Site 9SP14 has a high likelihood of yielding important information and is recommended eligible for the NRHP.